Women's media group to honor photographer Heidi Levine

This handout photo provided by the International Women's Media Foundation shows Heidi Levine in Jerusalem.

WASHINGTON (AP):

A women's media group will honour freelance photographer Heidi Levine as the inaugural winner of an award for courage named for Associated Press photographer Anja Niedringhaus, who was killed on assignment in Afghanistan.

The International Women's Media Foundation in Washington announced yesterday that Levine will be awarded the Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award. Levine is an American and is based in Jerusalem.

The award jury, which includes accomplished photographers and photo editors, said Levine stands out for her courage and compassion in capturing images in the Middle East.

"Her courage and commitment to the story in Gaza is unwavering," the jury wrote. "She documents tragic events under dire circumstances, while displaying a depth of compassion for the people she encounters."

The award will be presented to Levine at a ceremony on June 25 in Berlin. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation provided funding for the $20,000 prize.

"It is encouraging to see Anja's legacy honoured through the amazing and courageous work of Heidi Levine, this year's inaugural winner," said Santiago Lyon, director of photography for the AP. "Heidi thoroughly embodies Anja's spirit and courage."

Levine is originally from Boston and moved to Israel in 1983. She began her career with the AP and is now represented by the Sipa Press photo agency. Her photographs have appeared in publications around the world, often as cover stories. Levine has made a career of working in conflict and post-conflict areas, according to the media foundation. She has covered the revolutions in Egypt, Libya and Syria, and the stories of Iraqi refugees living in Jordan, Syria and Sweden. She has also worked in Afghanistan, Georgia and India.